Gas-producer.



J. A. HBRRICK.

GAS PRODUCER. APPLICATION FILED rum, 191 1 Patented Sept. 16,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

F J WITNESSES 1 V 3/ 4; l/VVE/VTUI? Q M AT ORA/5V5.

J. A. HERRIGKJ GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.4,1911.

Patented Sept. 16,1913

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.-

, fissur sjmthem ss.

' fuel within the producer I treat the fuel, it necessary, .5

v -,-gase s duringthcfdischarge of 0.

JAMES A. amnion, or new. roan, it, 1

' ons-rnonocnn.

artime r t n 1913- mg eo 'fiia February 4, 1 11. semi, "sq. (toe-54a.

To eeZl whom i1 may concern."

B it kno n that 1, JAMES B, citizen-of the' United New York, in the county A:- 'HEnn cK,

Improvements in, I I the followingv is a specificat on,

, This invention relotesto the manufacture of producer gas, I I I thereofqis to provides new and Improved and, one of the objects mechanical Qfeed or charging device for feeding fuel. nto. t e producer, Another object is to I proved stirring' devices combined with the feeding apparatus, whereby the mass of fuel within the producer will "be kept r'rom clogging,v andv also irom forrning crevices or Another object i space iusually provided at the to of the 'prlodllflrnnbringingthe top portion thereof nc'arerfe ,he level of; the fuels thereby reducilnggthe general height of the entire proucer,

Another object is Ito provide epparatusregularly and discharge the. fuel uniform-1y into-rtherproducer at such rates andikeolunieszns maybe necessary, and to spread he -fuel evenly over the'entire surface'of-thc mosswithin the same;

Another object isjto provide new on'd irn proved means adapted to I for outting'ofi the passage of whereby the size of theparticular lumps may he reduced before the fuelis discharged into the producer.

, Another object is {no-provide new and improved means producer. I v Otherobject's will be in part obvious and in pzrrt'pointed out-hereinhfter.

I elements and arrangement h'lf'he imientiondccording'ly consists in, the features of construction, combinetions of v I A of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafterdescr'ibed, and the scope of the up p'licntiog offwhieh willf'hoindicuted in the fo lowing laims p In the accompanying d'rgW-ings, wherein'l have illustrated one" or the various einbodi t ments'o f rny nvontion'; Figure 1 is e, ver- I ricu'f taken through thejupner portio otthe produc r, constru ted in States, residing at and S ateof Ne York, have invented certain new and useful as-Pr du ers, ofwhi h.

provide new and im-' todecrease the openat. will, and to' for v preventing the escape of fuel into the in the present instance,

the interior or Stu-ring device; ondFig: 8 is a partial very accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertlcahsect-lonal view, showing the details of construction "of the hopper and associated zipper-ems; 3 is aview of the top oitf 'e I hoppenshowing the'cover port-ion; Fig; 4 s a horizontal section of a l1opper,. taken on the line Ir-4 of Fig.2; Fig.

stirring device or shoe, in section; Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2, showing the cut-oflf, or fuel regulator, interposed between; the hopper and the producer; Fig. 7 is a vertical, cross section taken-on line 7' -7--of Ffigvishowing circulation" of; the shoe for- "h'opperand-top of the producer, showing the. manner in which a double or .duple x stirring device may be attached, or opt -lfltivelyrsupportd. I

Similar reference choracters'trcfer to simig lar parts throughout the several views of the drawings Referring now to these drawings, A represents the top of the producer, the same, being constructed tical sect-ion of the i with upper and lower sections 2nd 3, re-

' spectively.

The upper section 2 1s supportcd a's'by means of legs 4, which are connected thereto as shown). The producer is divided horizontally to divide the 2 and 3 along the line indicated at 6, which construction permits of the lower section 3 being revolved bymeans not herein shown. In order to prevent the escape of gas from betweensections 2 and 3,,a suitable trough is provided at '7, the some in the present instance being a water seal of'usual construction.- '.v

he upper, or fixed portion of the producer, as "will be noted, has its'side walls 8 extending over the portion 3 and depend-- ing from this overhanging portion a tongue 9, wh ch enters trough 7, said parts upper and lower sections so I I II 5 isa plans A iew of the lower part of the distributing by means of struts (not in conjunction with the water, which will be contained initrough T, constituting the seal between the relatively movable upper and" lower portions of tl'ife'pr -oducer; The Widening of this portion of: the structure, also simplifies the sup 'iorting of the some by means of the struts curried by .the legs t,

paratu's.

-. The upper portion, or section 2 of the pro-.

Leading from the upper portion 2 of the producer is a gas discharge conduit, or upcomer 11, which is-adapte'd to'conduct the gas from the producer to the consuming apducer is provided with a. roof 12," preferably arched, as shown, and formed centrally of this. roof portion is an a erture'through which extends a revoluble c ute or-shoe 13.- This chute or shoe is carried upon the shaft I 14, formed of a hollow pipe, which extends upward centrally of the hopper 15, and base 16', the latter resting-u on the roof portion 12 of the producer. T e hopper 15 may be tovthebase portion 16 by bolts, (not through the ears.- Or'suchobject may be accomplished "by any other suitable means. The shaft 14, which is supportedgfromits up 1'. end b means pres ently to be describe fisheld' rmly in exact central position with respect to the producer by'a bearingformed'centrally of the support 16, and-bya'similar'bearmg formed n a su port orspider located at the top and insi e of the h o'p er 15.- The upper end of 19,-and inasmuch as bevel gear 21 is o th h ft, 14, said shaft is I fired b k' or collar 22, which rests sweetening by the end bfithe'shaft' 14. is a bowl 23, suitably secured, *as by means of a key'to such shaft sop'as. to :turn with it. This bowl forms an overflow for the hollow shaft.

Meshing with bevel gear 21 is a similar gearf 24, upon't-he; horizontal shaft 25 supported upon the cross-beams 20, as by means of the jo rnaled blocks 26. Shaft 25 is provided wi h a second bevel. gear 27, which meshes with a similar gear 28, carried by theshaft-EQQ, which in turn is carried by a block-Tor separator 30,gpositioned between the cross-beams 20, and the columns 4 This shaft 29 at its lower'end is provided with a bevel gear which meshes with a similar bevel gear provided upon a driving shaft, which-may derive its source of power from any suit-able driving means, (not shown.)

In order to .coolthe shoe 13, and its dea A 0 condition to be fed into the producer, a

pending stigring members, if such members are providedf'as shown in F g. 8, a water su'pply'pi )efiflf'supplied from any suitable source b watersupply under pressure, passes along' overthe" beams 20, and 1s fixed by means of a suitable swivel o1nt an pri h in t-P p 34, which 22. .T e locker collar 22, rests upon the down centrally of the hollow pipeli, and

terminates in one branch which passes diagonally between the walls of the shoe 13to the toe thereof. If the stirring devices 31 paratus will be kept in a cool condition, t e

water passing through the entire length of the inlet pipe 34 and discharging into the shoe. The water will also flow through the I branches provided in pi e 34', through the pokers or stirring members 31, the water thereafter passing from the shoe 13 and said stirrin members-upward through the i 14 an overflowing into the bowl 23.

bowl at 23, it will be noted, is provided with apertures in its bottom portion, through which the water drips into a depression formed in the gear wheel 21, thence flowin through nip les provided in this gear whee into a troug carried by the bearing member 19, whence it flows 0 through a suitably connected discharge pi e 35. Discharge pipe 35 extends along t e'cross beams 20, and thence down to the trough 7, the lower end thereof being connected with the trough 7, said pipe discharging the water therein. Referring now :to th construction of the hopper 15, the cover portion is preferably made of two independent members 35' and 36, which'have a gas tightfitting one u n the other. The lower cover 35 rests tiglit ly upon the spider 18, and the top member 36 is provided with downwardly extending flanges, which embrace the outer edge of the cover member 35 and the outer edge of the/hopper 15. Handles as at 35 are pro- --vided upon the cover member 36. The opening 38, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 providedin cover member 35' may be disposed at any desired position relative to the circumference of the'hopper. -By revolving cover member 35, and byvrevolving cover member 36, the aperture therein registers with aperture 38 o'f the cover member 35, thereby providing. a passage way for coal into the hopper. \Vhen the hopper is-fillal, the't-op member 36 is rotated until aperture 38 is out of registry with the a-perture in the under cover member. The ends of the arms of spider 18 are secured to the inside walls of the hopperih any desired mannen'as' by means of the counter-sunk'screws shown in F ig..2 of

the drawings. U a In order to vstinth'e coal and keep it m series of horizontal spurs or'arms are he ed upon shaft14. These arms, 39, are suite '1 spaced from each other -and,preferably ex.

tend -irr'o'p osite directions. The. arms .39

are prefers. 1y provided with comparatively thinv slightly turned up blades. .Be-

will

' tween thesejarms, and extending nann from the inner wall of jthehopper 15,"are.

. tion; 16," andis. provided with apertures 43,.

aseries of arms or projections 39 which' 00- operate with the arms 39' to stir the fuel withintbe hopper or crush the larger pieces, if necessary. .The upper. surface of base portionlfiof the hopper is turned. off smooth,

' partitions '55 and 56.. In order to insure at andikeyed to shaft 14 is an arm 41 having. its underside turned to fit the upper surface of base portion 16, said arm being provided with ashar-p edge, so that during the rotati'ouof'the shaft- 14, this arm will scrape the fuel along the surface of the base portion 16, and into the. apertures 42, three of which, in the pr-esent instance, are'provided in said base portion. "The sharp edge of the 'mem-. her 41; also. operate tocut in two any pieces of fuel which'nia-y he of too 'largea 'sizato pass. through. the openings 42.

In the present embodiment of ny invention, base-portion 16 of the hopper is formed in two pieces, one of which'is provided with circular depression to-receive a plate l4,

provided with a projecting handle, whichextends through a slot provided in the aper l't' ii'edikplate in which'it rests. Plate 44.-

farms-a gas tight-joint within, the base porwhich ar'e'adupted to register with the apertu1cs42'of said base porno 1116. It will be seeriithat'by turning member 44, the size of the ap'ertdlres between the'hopper and the provided a construction well adapted to acpnoducerj m ay be made to'increase ,or decrease at will or the flow of fuel entirelyshut off.

.' In order to insure the desired delivery of fuel upon the entire surface of the bed within the producer, two of the apertures 42 are located directly above the inclined shoe 13,

'and theother is directly-above the heel ,or off-set 4 30f the shoe. The opening 46 of I pression 51, which serves to guide the fuel as the same slides down the ridge, the surface of said shoe being inclined outwardly and downwardly, as shown. Owing to the particular shape given the shoe as shown n Fig. 5 of the drawings, the depressions are of different length, thatnumbered 47 being shortest, and the one numbered 51 being the longest. Ea'c-h of these ridges will therefore discharge the coal into the prcducerat a {point at difl'erent-distance frein the center of the producer, thus lflSiF'lIlg an even dis,

the fuel upon the under surface 'bution of may be interior is divided-by partitions 55 and 5.6, y

the latter one being partly cut-"away to permita passage of the Water from one compartment t'o the other, water flowing first'on one side and then-upon the other of all times that the shoe 13 shall be filled with water to its utmostcapacity, a' small apertune. 53 'is provided in the rear portion thereof,-,W'hich extends through the hollow shaft 14. This will permit the escape of any air which. may be present Within the shoe.

. Having thus 'described this preferred embodiment of my invention, the manner in which it operates may now be understood.-

i In order to start the producerthe parts to be cooled are first filled with water, in the manner already described, the fire is then started in the usual way,sufiicient fuel being fed into the producer to increase the mass until the top level is at the desired height within the producer. This is accomplished by discharging the fuel from the ?-hopper, whe'reupon the revolving shoe will effect an even distribution thereof upon the top of the bed. The fire is maintained-within theproducer inthe usual way, the gas being dis-- charged thfcugh the discharge conduit or up-comer 11.

It .will accordingly beseen that I have distribution of the fuel upon the top of the bed, and thefstirring devices attached there to constantly amtate the mass withln the producer and keep the same free from fissures or crevices, thereby insuring an even quality ofgas. The coal passing down through the hopper is also broken up to the desired fineness by means of the crushingmeans therein, c nd it is discharged through the. openings 1n the bottom of the hopper,

and is insured by the revolving knife which passes over the bottom Wall of the hopper. The parts subjected to the heat of the tiirn ing mass are protected; by ineans of the water circulating system, which has already been described.

' Among the advantages obtained-by means of the preseiit construction is that the fuel he in gradually introduced into the producer, is gradually heated before arriving at the point of gasification, thin volumes of fuel being successively formed over-the entire surface of the mass. As manv changes could be made in the ore construction and many apparently de d' 'i'erent embodiments of this invenbe madewithout departing thereof, it is intended that all matters Patent, is

1. Thecombmation in a gas producer, of a casing having an apertured cover portion, a fuel hopper carried by the cover portion above the aperture thereof, said hopper be ing provided with a plurality of openings in its bottom wall which lead into the producer, a shaft extending through said hopper in the central portion thereof, and a blade carried by said shaft adjacent the upper surface of the bottom wall of said hopper, said blade being adapted to break up any coal -..lodged in the openings leading from the hopper into the producer.

2. The combination in a gas producer, of a cover portion provided with a centrally located aperture, a fuel hopper mounted upon said-cover portion above said aperture, the bottom wall of said hopper being provided with a plurality of openings through which fuel. may be 'dischargedint'o the interiorof the producer, cooperating means car- 4 ried by said hopper and said shaft for breaking up the fuel within the hopper, and a blade carried by said shaft revolving in engagement with the bottom wall of said hopper and adapted to. break up any fuel which may tend to clog said openings and thereby. preventing the free discharge of fuel into the producer 3. The combination in a gas producer, of

a casing provided with a cover portion and a hopper, said hopper being fixed and having a bottom portion provided with an open ing, a vertical. shaft extending through said hopper-,into the interior of said casing, a

'fuel carryingand distributing. member fixed on said shaft, meansfor driving said shaft, and a movable member arranged at the lower end of thehop'per above the distributing member'and adapted ,during the driving of said shaft to befixed in different positions toregulat-c the size of said opening.

4. The combination in, a'gas producer, of a casing provided with a cover-portion and a hoppeiy-said hopper being fixed and hava ing a'bottom portion provided with an opening, a vertical shaft extending through said hopperintothe interior ofthe casing, a

fuel'carrying' and distributing member fixed on said shaft, means for driving said shaft,

- a manually movable member disposed above said distributing member and adjacent said cal shaft extending centrally of said hopper may be centrally distributed within the casa hopper, said hopper being fixed against rotation and being provided with a plurality of openings leading into the casing, a vertiand said openings into the interior ofthe casing, means for driving said shaft, and a fuel distributing member mounted on said shaft, said member being provided with a vertical opening adapted to be successively presented beneath a hopper opening and being provided with a deflector portion adapted simultaneously to be successively presented beneath a plurality of hopper open ngs, whereby a smaller amount of fuel ing than is distributed away from the center.

6. The combination in a gas producer, of a casing provided with a cover portion and a hopper, said hopper being fixed against rotation and being provided with an opening leading into the casing, a ver-' tical shaft extending into 'the interior of the casing, means for driving said shaft, and a fuel distributing member mounted on said shaft, said distributing member being hollow and being provided with interior apertured partitions whereby the same is divided into a plurality of interior chambers communicating one with another-in series.

7. The combination in a gas producer, of a casing provided with a cover portion and 'a hopper, said hopper being fixed against rotation and being provided with an opening leading into the casing, a vertical shaft extending into the 'lIltfiIlOI of the casing,

means for .drivingsaid shaft, a, fuel distributing member mounted on said shaft, and means for delivering water within said member, said distributing member being hollow and being provided with aperturedpartitions whereby the water may have a predetermined circulation through different portions of said member and may have passage through a plurality of interior chambers communicating successively one with the one next 'adjacent.

8. The combination in a gas'producer, of a casing provided'with a cover portion and a hopper, said hopper being fixed against rotation and being provided with an opening leading into the casing, a vertical shaft extending into the interior of the casing, means for driving said shaft, a fuel dis- 130 dist ribntin'g member being hollow and be-. -n'1gprovid'ed with interiti'r apertured partitributing member mounted on said shaft,

a main conduit for conducting Water, said tions dividing said member interiorly' into eommani' aun "chambers,- and' a 'branch conduit. leadingfrom said main conduit; mto one of saldchtlmbBl's,

'i 9. The'combinatlon in a gas producer, of

a casing provided with a cover portion and a hopper, said hopper being fixed against rotation and being provided with an opening-leading into the casing, a hollow vertical shaft extending through said hopper into said casing, means for driving said shaft, a fuel distributing member mounted on said shaft,vsaid distributing member be ing hollowand being provided with interior apert-ured partitions -whereby the same is divided interiorly into communicating chambers, a water-feeding conduitsupported within said hollow shaft and leading into one of said chambers, and a passageway leading from another of said chambers into said hollow shaft.

10. The combination in a gas producer,-

of a casing provided with a cover portion and a hopper, said hopper being fixed against rotation and being provided with an opening leading into the. casing, a hollow vertical shaft extending through said hopper into said casing, means for driving said shaft, a fuel distributing member mounted on said shaft, said distributin member being hollow and being provided with interior apertured partitions wherebyand a hopper, said hopper being fixed against rotation and being provided with an opening leading intothe casing, a hollow vertical shaft extending through said hopper "nto said casing, means fordriving said sl ft, :1 fuel distributing member mounte on said shaft, ,said distributing member being hollow and being provided with interior apertured partitions whereby the same is divided interiorly into comnnmicating chambers, a water-feeding conduit supported within said hollow shaft and leading into ,one of said chambers, acollection 'means lying in the path of the circulating water, and a lead-ingott' conduit communicating with said collection means.

l2 he combination inv a of El caS'lflgy pt oyitlgqlg gas producer,

and a hopper, said hopper being fixed against-rotat on and being" provided with an opening leading into the casing,.a hollow vertical shaft extending through saidrhopipto' said casing, a ,hollow, fuel-distributing '1nen1be-'r. mounted on said shaft, a water-feeding conduit vSupported within said hollow shaft and leading into said dist i u ng m r, an peni heiup. r po-rtion'of said shaft for t li e exit of he water therefrom, a bearing for said shaft, a driving element connected to said shaft said bearing and said-driving element being disposed below said opening in said shaft and each said bearing and said driving element being provided with a cupped portion in the line of said shaft, andeach of said cupped portions being provided with exit ports, whereby the water leaving said,- opening in said shaft in 'its gravity-impelled descent exteriorly of said shaft will hate intermediate passage through said cupped portions and thereby cool the same.

13. The combination in a gas producer, of a casing provided with a cover portion and a hopper, a hollow vertical shaft extending through said hopper into the interior of the casing, means for revolving said shaft, afuel-carrying and feeding means disposed entirely within said hopper and mounted upon said shaft for revolution therewith, a

hollow fuel-scattering member disposed entirely within said casing and mounted on the lower end of said shaft fonrevolution therewith, a hollow stirring member disposed beneath said fuel-scattering member and mounted for revolutiontherewith, said hollow shaft, said hollow scattering memberand said hollow stirring'member having intercommunication, and a water-feeding device carried within said shaft and adapted to cause a flow of water through all said intercommunicating parts.

1,4. The combination in a gas producer comprising a casing and a cover portion. or a revolubly mounted distributing member located within the producer. the upper surface of which is provided with a plurality of parallelly disposed grooves of different. lengths, means for revolving said distributing member, and means for discharging fuel thereon.

15. A fuel distributing means for a producer, comprising a revolubly mounted hollow inclined member, the upper wall of which is provided with a pluralitv'of longitudinally extending parallclly disposed grooves of different lengths.

16.'The comblnation m a gas producer, of means for distributing fuel therein, comprising a hollow inclined member located within the producer, the upper wall of which provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, which operatetto guide the. ,fuel and dis?- grooves 01'. depressions tribute the same upon the mass within the In testimony whereof I have hereunto producer at various points radially thereof, .affixed my signature in the presence of two means foudischarging water into the inwitnesses...

terior .ef said distributing member, anda JAMES A. HERRICK. 5 lui tlity 'of @artitions located within said Witnesses: wistributi'ng member adapted to guide the FRANK J. KENT,

- water therein therethrough. ELLEN A. CAVANA GH. 

